The New York Times heralded a University of New Orleans graduate student of jazz studies
yesterday when the student was named a semifinalist in the Thelonious Monk International
Jazz Competition.

Drummer Jamison Ross, 24, is one of 12 semifinalists who will compete next month in
The 25th Annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition presented by the world-renowned
Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. This year’s competition is focused on drums and composers.

Semi-final rounds of the international competition, which is open to musicians under
age 30 from around the world, begin Sept 22 at the Baird Auditorium of the Smithsonian
Institution in Washington, D.C. Three finalists selected during the Saturday competition
will advance to perform in a final round and evening performance on Sunday, Sept.
23 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, also in Washington.

Ross will compete for more than $100,000 in available scholarships and prizes, including:
a $25,000 first place scholarship and guaranteed recording contract with Concord Music
Group; a $15,000 second place scholarship; and a $10,000 third place scholarship.

As a semifinalist, Ross will enjoy a star-studded gala entitled “Women, Music and
Diplomacy. The event honors former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and
Irina Bokova, director general of UNESCO.

Judges for the elite competition include an “all-star” panel of drummers, including
Carl Allen, Brian Blade, Terri Lyne Carrington, Peter Erskine, Roy Haynes, and Ben
Riley, according to a statement from the Thelonious Monk Institute.

Ross, who was born in Jacksonville, Fla., began playing drums at age 4. He attended
the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, where he won the Florida All-State Jazz Band
Drummer Award four consecutive years. He has also achieved a variety of other musical
honors.

Before pursuing graduate studies at UNO, Ross received a Bachelor of Music degree
in Jazz Studies and Bachelor of Arts in Commercial Music from Florida State University.
He has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea, George Clinton and P-Funk among
others.